Students protest against slow pace of Naga Vaishnavi's murder trial

Vijayawada, Jan 31 (INN): Students from various colleges and schools on Monday formed a human chain in the city demanding stern punishment for guilty in the sensational murder of Palagani Naga Vaishnavi, daughter of businessman late P Prabhakar Goud. Raising slogans against the inordinate delay in punishing the guilty, the students formed human chain at Benz Circle and obstructed the traffic for more than two hours. Monday marked the first anniversary Naga Vaishnavai kidnap and brutal murder.

All political party leaders, cutting across party lines, also participated in the dharna and extended their support to the students' agitation. The trial in the murder of Palagani Naga Vaishnavi, which began on December 27, 2010, will continue till February 8. Three witnesses will be questioned each day during the trial in the court of First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate here. As many as 88 witnesses will be examined during the trial.

Eight-year-old Naga Vaishnavi's murder shook the state on January 30, when the girl was reported dead two days after she was kidnapped. Her car driver was killed at the time of her kidnapping. She was killed and her body thrown into a furnace by the killers. The news of her death led to the death of her father Palagani Prabhakara Rao of shock.

The murders of Naga Vaishnavi and her car driver were so far believed to have been carried out by Venkat Rao Goud, brother-in-law of Naga Vaishnavi's father. Venkat Rao Goud is the brother of Prabhakar Rao's first wife. Meanwhile, the victim's family members have opposed the government's decision to transfer public prosecutor Brahmananda Reddy from the place.